Sector-level bargaining and possibilities for deviations at company level: Ireland

In Ireland, collective bargaining is organised as a three-tier system, with a dominance of bargaining and complementary bargaining at sectoral and company level. For over two decades collective bargaining, covering the unionised private and public sectors, has been regulated by national tripartite ‘social partnership’ agreements, drawing up guidelines on minimum and maximum wage increases. There have been seven successive triennial Social Partnership Agreements, or national wage agreements, since 1987. An overview report is available.